Heart Transplant Helps Newark Cop Attend His Son’s Wedding (VIDEO)

NEWARK, NJ — This Father’s Day, Charles Upshaw has a lot to be grateful for – including his new heart.

In an emotion-laden nod to the holiday, Upshaw is sharing his story of his recent heart transplant, which took place at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

The 67-year-old retired Newark police detective suffered from cardiomyopathy for five years before he went into heart failure. In 2020, the Advanced Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant team at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, placed him on the heart transplant waiting list.

But while he waited for a miracle, Upshaw’s condition slowly worsened and three years later his heart was operating at less than 12 percent. Unable to wait any longer for his new heart at home, Upshaw became confined to his hospital bed.

It was a tough time, he recalls – made all the more difficult by a torturing thought: Will I make it to my son’s wedding?

In February, the former law enforcement officer got the call he was waiting for. A short time later, he was under the care of the heart transplant team at Newark Beth Israel, led by Margarita Camacho, the decorated surgeon who performed the successful operation.

• See Related: Newark Surgeon Is 1st Female To Earn Prestigious Medical Award

Summoning the fortitude he became known for on the force, Upshaw was able to attend his son’s wedding just 23 days later, where he delivered an inspirational speech to his family (watch the video below).

The road to recover isn’t over for the grateful father, who attends cardiac rehab three times a week at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

As Father’s Day approaches, Upshaw said he’s thankful to his heart donor and their family – as well as his medical team and God – for allowing him to enjoy experiences like his son’s wedding.

“When I look around, I feel so fortunate that the gift of life was donated to me,” Upshaw said. “I urge everyone to consider organ donation, because you never know when someone in your family might need a transplant.”

• Read More: New Year, New Heart: Newark Man Remembers 'Miracle' Transplant
• Read More: Newark Hospital Patient Sets NJ Record For Living With Heart Pump

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